Advocacy

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 **BREAKING NEWS**

Right now, your state representative is considering which of the 870 amendments filed to the House Ways and Means Budget to support during the FY13 House budget debate. Several of these amendments relate to early education. 
 
Click here to send a message to your state representative asking him/her to support young children and families and key early education amendments during the budget debate.

Click here  for more information about the amendments.

The FY13 budget process began with the release of Governor Patrick’s proposed budget in January. The House will debate and vote on the budget during the week of April 23.

Now is the time to urge your state representative to support amendments on behalf of children and families.
 

On Wednesday, April 11, the Massachusetts House Ways and Means (HWM) Committee released its recommendations for $32.3 billion in state appropriations for the fiscal year 2013 (FY13) budget. The proposal, which addresses a projected $1.3 billion budget gap, does not call for any new taxes or fees, and makes use of one-time revenue sources such as the state Stabilization Fund.

The House Ways and Means committee’s recommended budget:
• Level funds the Universal Pre-Kindergarten program at $7.5 million
• Level funds the Head Start at $7.5 million
• Level funds early childhood mental health consultation services in early education and care programs at $750,000
• Reduces funding for overall child care subsidies by $8.1 million from FY12 levels
• Provides overall funding for the Department of Early Education and Care of $487 million, compared with $495 million in FY12
• Allocates $86.5 million for the Massachusetts State Scholarship Program, which includes the Early Childhood Educator Scholarship.

The HWM budget recommendation does not fund the early literacy initiative for family child care providers that Governor Patrick included in his proposed Gateway Cities Education Agenda. It also does not fund a rate increase for early education and care providers serving subsidized children.

Click here for more information about the HWM Committee’s recommendations for programs administered by the Department of Early Education and Care and for other line items related to high-quality early education.

News from the federal level:

U.S. Representative Gwen Moore Introduced Legislation to Require Comprehensive Background Checks for Child Care Providers

 Yesterday, Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI) introduced H.R. 3829,  the Child Care Accountability and Responsibility Act of 2012 or (CARE for Kids Act), which calls on states to conduct a fingerprint check against federal and state records, as well as a check of the sex offender, child abuse and neglect registries.  Now, it is our job to try to urge Members in the House to cosponsor the bill!

 Children ought to be safe in child care. Parents logically assume that a child care license means child care providers have had a background check. But, that’s not the case in too many states.  Only 11 states require child care providers to have a comprehensive background check. The fact of the matter is that taxpayer dollars should not be used to pay convicted felons or sex offenders to care for children. The Moore bill will put a stop to that practice.

 Take Action! 

Contact your Representative today and ask him/her to cosponsor H.R. 3829, the CARE for Kids Act introduced by Rep. Moore (D-WI).

 Thanks for your efforts to protect children! 

New Study Released Shows Top Corporations Pay No Taxes
Many difficult federal spending decisions will be made this fall to bring federal spending in line with federal receipts to ensure that the nation is on a path to reduce the federal budget deficit.  However, a new report released last week shows that many top corporations pay no income taxes.  Others shelter their income and pay little in taxes. Before Congress makes tough decisions on funding priorities, it makes sense to review whether corporations are paying their fair share or, as this new report shows, evading taxes.  Let Congress know that before vital services for families are cut, Members should look to make sure that corporations aren’t circumventing the tax system.  Tax fairness should be a priority in any deficit reduction plan.  Send the child care funding letter in our action center  to let your Members of Congress know that it’s not okay to cut child care.

Write a letter now!!